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Three Raiders are set to run out for the opening clash of representative round between the Junior Kangaroos and Junior Kiwis.

Utility Jack Murchie and forward Emer Guler will both start on the bench for Australia, while forward Fabien Puletua-Kiri will don Kiwi colours as the New Zealand outfit looks to make amends for their 34-20 loss when the two sides last met.

That clash last year featured a number of young guns now plying their trades in the NRL, including Nathan Cleary, Brian Kelly and Coen Hess. Murchie, Guler and Paletua-Kiri will be out to impress as they eye future elevations to the big-time.

The Kangaroos have won the last two encounters and lead the head-to-head 5-3.

The Jillaroos will look to write their wrongs for a 26-16 ANZAC Test loss at the hands of the Kiwis last year.

Australia v New Zealand

Friday, 8:05pm | GIO Stadium | Live on Channel 9

In the headline act of representative round, Raiders winger Jordan Rapana will need to play a crucial role if the Kiwis are to spring an upset over the Kangaroos.

The fact Rapana sits atop the try-scoring tally after nine rounds of competition, with eight four-pointers to his name, means Kiwi halves Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson will likely send plenty of ball the 27-year-old’s way for Rapana to weave his magic.

The Kangaroos will head into Friday night’s clash as hot favourites given their recent domination over their Trans-Tasman rivals.

They have claimed victory the last four times the sides have butted heads, a streak stamped with a 16-0 win in last year’s ANZAC Test and a 34-8 drubbing over the Kiwis in November’s Four Nations final win.

Overall, Australia holds the head-to-head upper hand 99-32 from the 134 times the sides have met, and the sides have played out three draws.